After the brief “correction” in October, the market basically pulled a Men In Black where it essentially looked at the pen and proceeded to forget the past and resumed its ascendency to record highs. I made a couple of moves on my portfolios to bank some profits and to open some new positions. This is despite my feelings that the stock market is still overpriced.

As most of you who have stumbled upon my website know, I used to post a blog called Investment Consensus Watch where I would highlight observations where a consensus viewpoint was being entrenched in the stock market and overall economy. I used to group my observations/blog posts as Positive and Negative. I don’t know if anyone used it, but I found great value in grouping these observations because it gave me a dashboard into whether the Consensus was exuberant or pessimistic. Starting this year I decided to stop making these posts under this umbrella, mainly because there were other things I wanted to share with you that I thought were important. However, I couldn’t quit cold turkey so I decided to continue to compile observations of Consensus and to at least try an post every few months some quick hits and links to some consensus thinking that is prevalent. So for my first iteration this year, here are some random musings of Consensus over the first couple of months of 2016:

With economic uncertainty hanging over the country, Canadians appear to be in a hoarding mood and parking money in cash. Usually when this level of fear and negativity set in, it could signal a time to start dipping the toes.

Magazine covers are great for identifying peaks and troughs. Barrons magazine cover in February pounds the table for $20 oil. When I see these type of headlines, I’m compelled to take the other side of this trade.

Investor Consensus – February 15 2016

Canadian Investors are becoming a skittish bunch. Manulife Financial says that Canadian investors have lost confidence in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and balanced mutual funds over the past six months.

It also suggests that housing is seen as a less attractive investment, while confidence in fixed income investments has stayed about the same.

Individual investor optimism lowest since 1993.

According to the American Association of Individual Investors latest survey, less than 30 percent of its members (retail investors) are optimistic about stocks. Bummer.

Positive Consensus Posts

The one positive moment of Consensus the past few months is that Americans are finally building up the confidence and courage to seek greener pastures. You don’t quit a job unless you’ve got something lined up. More quits indicates more jobs are to be had and more likely better paying jobs.

So overall from my perch, I would say 2016 has gotten to a very bleak start. From an investing perspective it has definitely woken me up and made me pay more attention to looking at opening or building on current positions.

Any other consensus sightings? Let me know and we’ll add them to the list!